Reservoir system and method of making

ABSTRACT

A reservoir system is disclosed that can have two or more reservoirs attached to a manifold. The manifold can direct or control the flow of liquids from the reservoirs and deliver the liquids to a drinking tube extending from the manifold. The reservoirs and manifold can be in a backpack. Some or all of the reservoirs can be positioned on other parts of the body outside of the backpack.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/870,164, filed on Aug. 26, 2013 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

A reservoir system is disclosed more narrowly, a reservoir system having a manifold connected to two or more vessels or reservoirs.

2. Related Art

Portable reservoir systems often include a single soft reservoir in a backpack. The soft reservoir is filled with liquid, such as water. The backpacks often have padding and/or ventilation elements on the front wall of the backpack sack between the reservoir and the user's back.

When the user is wearing the backpack and the reservoir is partially or completely filled with liquid, the reservoir presses against the back, reducing the capability of any ventilation built into the front side of the backpack—compressing the ventilation or padding between the reservoir and the back.

The center of gravity of the backpack will also change dramatically between when the reservoir is full to when the reservoir is empty since the liquid will usually be most of the weight in the backpack. When the user rotates his or her back (e.g., moving from a vertical standing to a horizontal lying down position, or even natural shifting left and right while walking—or even front to back while walking), the center of gravity will also shift dramatically as the liquid sloshes within the larger reservoir or flows from the bottom or the reservoir to the side of the reservoir.

The single reservoir is usually connected directly to a long hose that is fed through the wall or an opening of the backpack and along an arm strap so the user can drink from the reservoir while wearing the backpack. The reservoir is also large, almost entirely flexible, and does not have an easy handle so removing the reservoir from the backpack and moving and using the reservoir without the backpack is awkward and generally difficult.

Accordingly, a reservoir system is desired that can reduce compression of a single reservoir against the front of the backpack. A reservoir system is also desired that can reduce the changes to the center of mass of the backpack when the user moves or when the amount of liquid in the reservoir is changed (e.g., partially or completely filled or drained). A reservoir system is also desired that can have a separable reservoir or reservoirs that can be removed from the backpack and used independently of the backpack in an ergonomic and comfortable manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A reservoir system is disclosed that can have a manifold and tubing and/or connectors to connect two or more vessels (reservoirs, bottles or bags) to make one system connected to a single source (e.g., the manifold which is fed by the vessels) with a drinking valve. The system can be a closed system with the single outlet connected to a single tube when the entire system is assembled, for example in a backpack, harness, rigid or flexible pod, netting or combinations thereof. The system can allow for the interchange of vessels to the manifold.

Further disclosed is a reservoir system that can have a manifold, a first vessel removably attached to the manifold, a second vessel removably attached to the manifold, and a drinking tube attached to the manifold. The reservoir system can include a backpack. The manifold, first vessel and second vessel can be in the backpack.

A user can place the vessels in different locations on their body (e.g., higher or lower along their back, on each hip, on the chest or abdomen, legs, arms, head) that can maximize comfort and usability—while still have them all connected together, for example via tubes to a single manifold. The vessels can be disconnected from the system for easy refill, alternate use, or fast replacement. The system can be configured to automatically close off flow to and/or from vessels in the system that become ruptured or are manually switched to an out of commission configuration.

Furthermore, a reservoir system is disclosed that can have a first manifold, first and second reservoirs removably attached to the first manifold, and a drinking tube attached to the first manifold. The first manifold can have a first self-closing, self-actuating, or self-sealing valve. The system can be in a backpack. For example, the first manifold, first reservoir and second reservoir can be in the backpack. The first manifold and first reservoir can be in the backpack, and the second reservoir can be outside of the backpack.

The first reservoir can have a handle.

The system can have a harness. The first manifold, first reservoir and second reservoir can be in the harness. The first manifold and first reservoir can be in the harness, and the second reservoir can be outside of the harness.

The system can have a pod. The first manifold, first reservoir, and second reservoir are in the pod. The first manifold and first reservoir can be in the pod, and the second reservoir can be outside of the pod.

The first reservoir can have a second self-closing valve. The second reservoir can have a third self-closing valve.

The system can have a second manifold and a third reservoir removably attached to the second manifold. The drinking tube can be in fluid communication with the first manifold and the second manifold. The second manifold can have a second self-closing, self-actuating, or self-sealing valve.

Also disclosed is a reservoir system that can have a first manifold, a structural bar, a first reservoir removably attached to the first manifold and the structural bar, a drinking tube in fluid communication with the first manifold, and a backpack. The first manifold, bar, and first reservoir can be in the backpack.

A method for filling a reservoir is disclosed. The method can include attaching a first reservoir to a manifold at a first manifold port. The method can also include attaching a second reservoir to the manifold. The method can also include transferring liquid from the first reservoir to the second reservoir. The transferring of the liquid from the first reservoir can include transferring the liquid through the manifold. The method can also include removing the first reservoir from the manifold. The removing of the first reservoir can include self-sealing the first manifold port.

The first reservoir can have a first reservoir longitudinal axis. The second reservoir can have a second reservoir longitudinal axis. The first reservoir longitudinal axis can be collinear with the second reservoir longitudinal axis.

The method can further include applying suction to the first reservoir. The applying of suction to the second reservoir can occur before the transferring of the liquid to the second reservoir. For example, the user can drink from one, or predominantly from one lateral side of the reservoirs, and the liquid can flow and rebalance within the reservoirs to maintain the to location of the center of gravity of the reservoir system along a lateral axis.

The method can further include rotating the first and second reservoirs with respect to the horizontal plane. The rotating can occur before the transferring of the liquid to the second reservoir. For example, as the system is moved, such as rotating with respect to the horizontal plane, the liquid can flow and rebalance within the reservoirs.

The first reservoir can have a reservoir port. The removing of the first reservoir from the manifold can include self-sealing the first reservoir port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a variation of the reservoir-manifold assembly.

FIGS. 2 a through 2 d illustrate backpacks with variations of the reservoir-manifold assembly entirely located in the backpack.

FIG. 2 e is a schematic view of a variation of a t-splitter.

FIGS. 2 f and 2 g illustrate variations of the manifold-reservoir assembly.

FIG. 3 illustrates a variation of the reservoir-manifold assembly shown in FIG. 2 d.

FIG. 4 illustrates a variation of a method for disconnecting or connecting the reservoir from the manifold.

FIGS. 5 a through 5 c are back views of a user wearing a variation of a backpack with the assembly.

FIGS. 6 a through 6 c illustrate variations of the manifold.

FIG. 7 is a close-up view of a variation of the manifold (e.g., a molded Y-splitter configuration) in a reservoir-manifold assembly mounted into a cut out of molded foam indentation in a backpack or frame.

FIG. 8 illustrates a variation of the reservoir-manifold assembly in a backpack.

FIG. 9 is a disassembled view of a variation of the reservoir-manifold assembly.

FIG. 10 illustrates a variation of the reservoir-manifold assembly having a refill bladder and a t-junction manifold.

FIG. 11 illustrates a variation of the reservoir-manifold assembly having a flexible manifold.

FIG. 12 a illustrates a variation of a vest reservoir.

FIG. 12 b is a variation of cross-section A-A of the vest reservoir.

FIGS. 13 a and 13 b are front and side views, respectively, of a variation of the manifold-reservoir assembly with interlocking reservoirs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a manifold-reservoir assembly. The manifold reservoir assembly can have one or more reservoirs (i.e., vessels), a manifold, a bar, one or more drinking tubes, or combinations thereof. The reservoirs can connect to the manifold. The reservoirs can hold a substance such as a fluid. The reservoirs can be flasks or bottles. The fluid can flow from the reservoirs through the manifold and through the drinking tube.

A portion or all of the manifold-reservoir assembly can be carried in an enclosure such as a bag, backpack, waist belt, harness carrying system, pod, netting or combinations thereof.

The reservoirs can connect to the manifold, for example as a single drinking connection. The reservoirs can attach to the manifold by clipping on or screwing in to the manifold. The reservoirs can be physically separated from one another. The reservoirs can have liquid volumes from about 50 ml to about 6 L per reservoir, for example about 1.5 L. The vessels can have various shapes including cylindrical, spherical, rectangular, flexibly shaped, or combinations thereof.

The reservoirs can be closed vessels made through a process such as molding, welding, blown film, or mechanical sealing (e.g., spin, ultrasonic, heat stake). The reservoirs can be rigid or flexible. The reservoirs can be refillable containers with fill spouts having diameters of equal to or greater than about 20 mm. The reservoirs can have reservoir ports, for example, configured to attach to the manifolds and place the reservoirs in fluid communication with the manifolds, a closure (e.g., a screw cap closure), cap, connector tubing, or combinations thereof.

The manifold-reservoir assembly can include a direct connection (rigid or non-removable) to the reservoirs.

The manifold can be a rigid and/or flexible channel. The manifold can have one, two or more ports and/or valves configured to connect to the reservoirs. There can be one or more valves per reservoir. The valves can be located on the manifold or inside the manifold. The manifold can have one, two or more ports and/or valves configured to connect to one or more drinking tubes. The manifold or the vessels can have a valve to control the amount of liquid passing to the drinking tube. The valve can be controlled manually or electronically to determine the amount of fluid to pass. The valves can be check valves, for example, to prevent water from flowing back into the reservoir. This prevents water from leaking out of the system if a reservoir were ruptured.

The first reservoir can contain a first fluid. The second reservoir can contain a second fluid, different from the first fluid. The manifold and reservoirs can connect through the caps or ports attached to or mounted to the reservoirs. The manifold-reservoir assembly can be a controllably fluidly-closed system (e.g., where the system can be fluidly-opened by operating a valve at the terminal end of the drinking tube, and where the system is fluidly-closed when the system is in an unbiased configuration, for example, the system will return to a fluidly-closed state when no external forces are applied to open the system such as the lack of biting on a bite valve) when the reservoirs are attached to the manifold.

The drinking tube can be flexible or rigid. The drinking tube can connect anywhere on the manifold. The drinking tube can have a bite valve at the end of a drinking tube. The bite valve can be self-sealing and/or manually activated. The drinking tube can have a valve on the opposite end of the bite valve.

FIGS. 2 a through 2 d illustrate that a portion or all of the manifold-reservoir assembly can be carried in an enclosure, for example, a backpack, bag, or case. (The enclosure is referred to generically as the backpack going forward for simplicity.) For example, one or more of the reservoirs can be carried by the backpack concurrent with one or more of the reservoirs being outside of and/or not carried by the backpack, for example, carried in the hand or hands of the user or placed on a surface. (“Carried by” can include, for example, being in the backpack, attached to the backpack, carried by a pouch, or combinations thereof). The backpack can have one, two or more arm straps and/or one, two, or more waist straps. The backpack can have a slot. The drinking tube can extend from the inside of the backpack to the outside of the backpack through the slot. The manifold-reservoir assembly can be placed in a pocket of the backpack (e.g., at the top of the backpack, on the bottom of the backpack, in the center of the backpack or on either side of the backpack).

FIG. 2 a illustrates that the manifold-reservoir assembly can be in a backpack. The backpack can have a backpack longitudinal axis. The backpack longitudinal axis can lie in a coronal plane and/or a sagittal plane of a user wearing the backpack. The backpack can have a backpack lateral axis. The backpack lateral axis can refer to a transverse plane. The arm straps can be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the backpack. The arm straps can be parallel to the backpack lateral axis. The waist straps can be positioned around the waist of the user. The waist strap can be one or two pieces that extend from the back pack with a connector to secure the waist strap pieces together around the waist of the user. The drinking tube can be attached to the waist strap or the arm strap. The entire length of the drinking tube can be placed inside the backpack.

The longitudinal axis of the reservoirs can be parallel with the backpack longitudinal axis or perpendicular to the backpack lateral axis. The longitudinal axis of the manifold can be parallel with the backpack longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of the manifold can be perpendicular with the backpack longitudinal axis.

The manifold-reservoir assembly can have an automatic coil system. The automatic coil system can have a case and a spring wherein the spring compresses when the drinking tube is pulled from the case and released. In the contracted configuration, the coil can be inside the backpack or at the slot.

FIG. 2 b illustrates that the manifold-reservoir assembly can have more than one reservoir (e.g., six reservoirs), a first manifold, and a second manifold. A first group of reservoirs, for example a first half of the reservoirs, can fluidly connect to the first manifold. A second group of reservoirs, for example, a second other half of the reservoirs can fluidly connect to the second manifold. The fluid in the first group of reservoirs can flow from the first group of reservoirs through the first manifold and through the drinking tube. The fluid in the second group of reservoirs can flow from the second group of reservoirs through the second manifold and through the drinking tube. The longitudinal axis of the first reservoir can be collinear with the longitudinal axis of the fourth reservoir.

The longitudinal axis of the second manifold can be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first manifold. The second manifold can be a stabilizing bar.

The first and second manifold can have valves to balance the center of gravity. For example, when the first group of reservoirs have less fluid than the second group of reservoirs, the valves on the first manifold can allow fluid to flow to the drinking tube while the valves on the second manifold are closed.

The one or more drinking tubes can be attached to the first manifold and/or the second manifold. The drinking tube can be attached to the top of the manifold relative to the backpack, to the bottom of the manifold relative to the backpack, or the side of the manifold.

FIG. 2 b′ illustrates that the reservoirs can be in fluid communication with each other through ports and/or valves directly between adjacent reservoirs. The fluid can flow from each adjacent reservoir through ports and/or valves (back to back reservoirs and/or side to side reservoirs). For example, the liquid can transfer or shift back and forth from the third reservoir to the sixth reservoir to self-balance the water when the water is disproportionately sucked from one lateral side of the manifold-reservoir assembly, and/or due to gravity as the manifold reservoir assembly is rotated with respect to the horizontal plane. This fluid transfer between the third and the sixth reservoirs can occur between any of the collinear or otherwise laterally adjacent sets of corresponding reservoirs. Furthermore, this fluid transfer between laterally adjacent reservoirs can include the fluid transferring through the first and/or second manifolds en route to the corresponding reservoir.

FIG. 2 b″ illustrates that the reservoirs can be connected to each other by connectors. The reservoirs can be connected back to back and/or side to side. The connectors can be clip-ons, molded, slide on, or any combination thereof. The connectors and ports can be used in combination where reservoirs can be connected by a connector and/or have a port.

FIG. 2 c illustrates that the first and second reservoirs can be configured in a V-shape (i.e., V-style reservoir). The manifold-reservoir assembly can have a reservoir securing flexible strap and/or rigid collar.

The first reservoir can have a first reservoir longitudinal axis. The second reservoir can have a second reservoir longitudinal axis. The first and second reservoir longitudinal axes can intersect at a reservoir-to-reservoir angle. The intersection can be located outside of the reservoirs. The V-shape can be oriented so the end of the reservoirs opposite to the manifold face up, down, or to the side relative to the longitudinal axis of the backpack. The reservoir-to-reservoir angle can be greater than about 1° and less than about 179°, more narrowly between about 10° to about 60°, more narrowly between about 20° and about 45°. For example, the reservoir-to-reservoir angle can be about 150°, about 120°, about 90°, about 60°, or about 30°.

The manifold can have connectors, such as threaded ports, configured to attach to reservoirs. The angle configuration of the connectors for the reservoirs can form the V-shape reservoirs. The manifold can have a manifold longitudinal axis. A manifold-reservoir angle can be formed at the intersection of the manifold longitudinal axis and the reservoir longitudinal axis. The manifold-reservoir angle can be greater than about 1° and less than about 179°, more narrowly between about 10° to about 60°, more narrowly between about 20° and about 45°. For example, the manifold-reservoir angle can be about 150°, 120°, 90°, 60°, or 30°.

The one or more reservoir securing flexible straps and/or rigid collar can hold the reservoirs and/or the manifold. The strap can hold the manifold-reservoir assembly in one location of the backpack. The strap can be connected to the backpack. The strap can hold one or more reservoirs. The strap can be a rigid clip-strap. The straps can allow the reservoirs to slide in. The straps can be elastic. The straps can tighten (e.g., automatically, electronically, or manually) when the fluid in the reservoirs decrease, for example, when the reservoirs are flexible, the straps can tighten on the reservoirs when the reservoirs deform in shape after fluid is released through the drinking tube.

FIG. 2 d illustrates a manifold-reservoir assembly that can have the reservoirs placed in one or more side pockets of the backpack, such as in zipper pockets. The manifold can have a first connector tube, a second connector tube, and a tube t-splitter. The t-splitter can have a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first connector tube can fluidly connect the first reservoir to the first port of the t-splitter. The second connector can fluidly connect the second reservoir to the second port of the t-splitter. The third port of the t-splitter can be fluidly connecter to a terminal end of the drinking tube. When negative pressure is created at the drink tube, the fluid flows from the separate reservoirs located in the side pockets of the backpack through the t-splitter and out of the drinking tube.

The pockets can be located inside the backpack or on the exterior of the backpack. The pockets can be located on the sides of the backpack, on the bottom of the backpack, on the top of the back, on the arm straps, on the waist straps, or combinations thereof. The pockets can be elastic. The pockets can have zippers, ties, clips, or combinations thereof. The pockets can completely enclose the reservoir or partially enclose the reservoir. The pockets can have a slot. The slot can allow the tubing to go from the inside of the pocket to the t-splitter located inside of the backpack. The pockets can be made of waterproof material. The pockets can be the reservoir. The pockets can be configured to hold fluid. The pockets can have a connection for the tubing. The reservoirs can fit into the pocket of the backpack. The reservoirs and/or pockets can be laterally located on the backpack.

The t-splitter can have two, three or more ports to connect the two, three or more reservoirs. The reservoirs can each have a tube that begins from the reservoir and ends at the t-splitter. The t-splitter can have one or more tubes that run from the t-splitter to the drinking tube. The t-splitter can have one or more drinking tubes that run from the t-splitter. The system can include valves on the end of the tubes, for example to allow for easy connecting and disconnecting of reservoirs for refill or decommission (i.e., shutting off flow). The manifold can have a T-junction or a Y-junction (i.e., a three-way junction) or valve. The manifold can be the tube and the t-splitter.

FIG. 2 e illustrates that the t-splitter can have three terminal t-splitter ports. Any or all of the terminal ports can have a t-splitter valve. The t-splitter valves can control the flow of fluid through the t-splitter. The t-splitter valves can allow bi-directional or unidirectional flow. Any or all of the t-splitter valves can be check valves.

One end of the drinking tube can connect to a t-splitter port. The other end of the drinking tube can exit the backpack through a slot. The drinking tube can have a valve at either end. The valve can control the flow to and from the t-splitter.

FIG. 2 f illustrates that the manifold-reservoir assembly can have the reservoirs laterally located relative to the manifold. The reservoirs can be radially placed around a manifold. The reservoirs can be placed on each side of the manifold. For example, if the manifold has four sides, a reservoir can be placed on each of the four sides.

FIG. 2 g illustrates the manifold-reservoir assembly where the reservoirs are on either side of the manifold and angled. The angled reservoirs can be at a reservoir angle greater than about 1° and less than about 90° relative to the manifold, more narrowly between 15° and 60°, more narrowly between 30° and 45°. For example, the angle can be about 75°, 60°, 45°, 30°, or 15°. The angle can allow the fluid to flow. The manifold-reservoir assembly can have a second and/or third manifold. The second and/or third manifold can provide stabilization.

FIG. 3 illustrates that the manifold-reservoir assembly can have detachable components. The manifold-reservoir assembly can have a molded top cap, a molded refill port, a screw cap closure, tubing and TPU film.

The reservoirs can have a molded top cap. The molded top cap can be detachable. The molded top cap can be fit to close the top of the reservoir. The molded top cap can be pushed in, screwed on, or clipped on the top of the reservoir. The molded top cap can be permanently attached to the reservoir. The molded top cap can enable the reservoir to be filled with fluid without disassembling the entire reservoir from the manifold-reservoir assembly.

The manifold-reservoir assembly can have a molded refill port. The molded refill port can connect with the reservoir. The molded refill port can be permanently attached to the reservoir. The molded refill port can be detachable. The reservoir can screw on, clip on, or be pushed on the molded refill port. The molded refill port can have a valve to prevent the flow to and from the reservoir. The molded refill port can be attached or detached from the screw cap closure. A new reservoir can be attached to the molded refill port when the old reservoir is empty.

The screw cap closure can connect the reservoir (including the molded refill port) to the manifold. The reservoir can screw on the screw cap closure. The reservoir can be snapped in the screw cap closure. The screw cap closure can have a valve. The screw cap closure can have a quick disconnect valve or connector.

The tubing connects the screw cap closure and the t-splitter. The tubing can allow fluid to pass from the screw cap closure to the t-splitter. The tubing can allow fluid to pass from the t-splitter to the screw cap closure. The tubing can be used as the drinking tube. The tubing can range from about 4 mm to about 10 mm, for example about 4 mm. The tubing can be made from any materials listed herein.

The manifold can consist of the molded refill port, screw cap closure, tubing, t-splitter, or combinations thereof.

FIG. 4 illustrates that the reservoirs can be connected and disconnected. The reservoirs can be disconnected or connected to the manifold by turning or rotating the reservoir with respect to the manifold. For example, the manifold can be rotated 45° or less, for example, about 30°, or about 10° with respect to the manifold. The reservoir can connect or disconnect by turning the reservoir more than about 45°, for example about 60°, about 90°, about 120°, about 180°, or about 360° with respect to the manifold. The reservoir can connect or disconnect to the manifold by sliding into the manifold or snapping onto the manifold. The reservoirs can be turned clockwise or counter clockwise to connect. The reservoirs can be turned clockwise or counter clockwise to disconnect.

FIG. 5 a illustrates that the backpack can be configured so the reservoir pockets can hold the reservoirs positioned with the reservoir longitudinal axes along the horizontal axis of the body. The reservoir longitudinal axes can be collinear with each other. The reservoirs can also be positioned at or just above the waist, effectively mounted on top of the waist or pelvis. The reservoir pocket can be flexible. The bottom of the reservoirs or reservoir pockets can be above intersect or be above the top of the waist, belt line, or top of the iliac crest. The top of the reservoirs or reservoir pockets can intersect or be below the back mid-line (e.g., the verticle mid-point of the back). The reservoirs can be circular, square, rectangular, flexible, or any combinations thereof. The manifold pocket can be located on the vertical body median axis. The manifold pockets can be symmetric and equidistant from the vertical body median axis. The manifold pocket can be between the reservoirs or above the reservoirs. The drinking tube (i.e, hydration tube) can be located on the shoulder. The manifold pocket can have a pull tab to open the manifold pocket. The backpack can be made from spandex or elastane (e.g., LYCRA by INVISTA of Wichita, Kans.) and can have a printed pattern on the spandex.

FIG. 5 b illustrates that reservoir pockets can hold the reservoirs so the reservoir-to-reservoir angle is from about 15° to about 170°, more narrowly from about 20° to about 120°. The longitudinal axes of the reservoirs can be parallel or collinear with each other. The reservoir longitudinal axes can have an angle with respect to the vertical body median axis from about 0° to about 30°, more narrowly from about 5° to about 20°. The reservoirs can be vertically mounted in a V-styled lower back. The manifold can be in a manifold pocket. The manifold pocket can be between the reservoirs and/or reservoir pockets. The manifold can be stored in one of the reservoir pockets. The backpack can have a main pocket. The main pocket can also have a stretch panel. The stretch panel can stretch or expand. The main pocket can have a zipper, clips, ties, or any combination thereof. The backpack can have a helmet attachment (or attachment area) configured to attach to a full-face or half-face helmet. The helmet attachment can be between the reservoir pockets.

The manifold pockets and/or reservoir pockets can be transparent, translucent, opaque, or combinations thereof. For example, the reservoir pockets can hold the reservoir and the manifold and be configured to be opaque surrounding the reservoir and transparent surrounding the manifold.

FIG. 5 c illustrates that the backpack can have reservoir pockets that hold the reservoirs below the back mid-line and above or on the top, or transecting or below the horizontal line of the iliac crest or waist. The backpack can be a vertical V-styled shoulder blade mounted design. The longitudinal axes of the reservoirs can be parallel or V-shaped. The main pocket can be above the reservoirs. The main pocket can have a zipper and/or a flap. The reservoir pockets can have call out panels, for example made from a different color and/or material and smaller than the remainder of the pocket. The call out panels can be more or less thermally insulated than the remainder of the pocket.

FIGS. 6 a through 6 c illustrate that the manifold can be a y-splitter, similar to the t-splitter described herein, but the longitudinal axis of each arm of the manifold can be at about 120 degrees to the longitudinal axis of each adjacent arm of the manifold. The manifold arms can be co-planar.

FIG. 6 b illustrates that the manifold can have webs between any or each of the adjacent manifold arms.

FIG. 6 c illustrates that the manifold can have a mid-port in the middle of the manifold opening perpendicular to the plane formed by the manifold arms. The mid-port can be in fluid communication with the ports at the terminal ends of the manifold arms. The manifold can have the mid-port and ports at the terminal ends of all three manifold arms, or the mid-port and ports at only one or two terminal ends of the manifold arms. The mid-port can be fluidly connected to connector tubing and/or a drinking tube.

The mid-port can be not in fluid communication with the ports at the terminal ends of the manifold. For example, the mid-port can extend through the thickness of the entire manifold. Non-fluid items can pass or extend through the mid-port (e.g., headphone wires can be passed from the inside of the backpack through the mid-port).

FIG. 7 illustrates that the manifold can have a molded Y-splitter configuration. The manifold can be mounted into a cut-out, recess, or indentation in the backpack or frame. The remainder of the indentation can be filled with molded foam.

FIG. 8 illustrates that the reservoirs can be mounted or held on the front of the backpack, for example, on or in the arm straps of the backpack. The manifold can be located inside the backpack. The manifold can be located on or in the bottom exterior of the backpack (shown inside of the backpack in FIG. 8).

FIG. 9 illustrates that the reservoirs can have reservoir male connectors. The reservoir male connectors can have self-actuating, self-closing, self-sealing valves configured to close when the reservoir is detached from the manifold and open when the reservoir is attached to the manifold. The valve switches can be located on the manifold.

The manifold can have one, two, or three manifold ports. The reservoir male connectors can be configured to plug into the manifold ports. The manifold port can be configured so the valves in the reservoir male connectors can open when the reservoir male connector is pressed into the manifold port.

The manifold-reservoir assembly can have a first drinking tube and a second drinking tube. One or two drinking tubes can be inserted into one or two manifold ports, respectively.

The manifold ports can have thumb latches configured to secure and release the reservoir male connectors and/or drinking tubes from the manifold ports. The thumb latch can be configured so closing the thumb latch can open the valve in the reservoir male connector, and opening the thumb latch can open the valve in the reservoir male connector.

The reservoirs can be filled and then attached to the manifold. The reservoirs can then fill the manifold and then be removed from the manifold, or the reservoirs can remain attached to the manifold.

The first reservoir can be filled and the second reservoir can be empty. The reservoirs can then be attached to the manifold. The first reservoir can then be emptied through the manifold and into the second reservoir. The reservoirs can then be removed from the manifold.

The manifold can concurrently fluidly attach to one or more reservoirs and two or more drinking tubes. For example, two users can drink from the same manifold concurrently.

The detachable reservoirs can be attached in a location on the manifold as needed on or in the backpack or elsewhere on the user (e.g., front mounting reservoirs for use during running, leg-mounting reservoirs).

The manifold can have a front panel and a rear panel. The manifold can have a manifold edge weld and manifold interior welds. The manifold welds can connect the front panel to the rear panel. The manifold edge weld can extend around all or part of the circumference of the manifold. The manifold interior welds can be between adjacent manifold ports.

The manifold can be fitted to rest on the lumbar portion of the user's back. The manifold can be in a backpack and/or have one or more types of strap connectors configured to releasably attach to straps, belts, harnesses, or combinations thereof, to strap the manifold to the user's body around the front or rear of the lumbar area.

FIG. 10 illustrates that the reservoir-manifold assembly can have a main reservoir and one or more sub reservoirs. The main reservoir can act as a refill bladder (e.g., udder) to the sub reservoirs (or vice versa). The refill bladders can attach, connect, or hook up to one or more refill reservoirs via a manifold having a valved, T-junction connector, such as the T-splitter described herein. The refill reservoirs can hang below the bladder reservoir and fill due to gravity-fed or inflation-pressurized flow from the main reservoir through the manifold. The refill reservoirs can be disconnected for use in a separate system. The t-splitter can connect one refill reservoir and two other bladders (i.e., sub-reservoirs). The drinking tubes can be connected to the sub reservoirs or the main reservoir.

FIG. 11 illustrates that the manifold can be rigid or flexible. For example, the manifold can be a flexible manifold having a tube with many connection ports (e.g., a row of t-connections) spliced into the tube for connection to individual reservoirs. The manifold can be an extension of the drinking tube with closable connection ports on the side of the tube. The flexible manifold can extend vertically along the longitudinal axis of a backpack with ports extending away from the sides of the manifold. The ports can have a quick connect system such as snaps or magnets.

FIG. 12 a illustrates that the reservoir can be a vest reservoir. The reservoir can be made, for example, from two panels, such as a chest plate and a back plate. The panels can be made from TPU-backed fabric or film. The two panels can be welded together to form a volume between the panels. The reservoir can have connection ports that can attach/connect to additional reservoirs (e.g., used to fill the vest reservoir or to be filled by the vest reservoir), fill hoses or fill tubes, and/or drink tubes. The ports can be sealable. The ports can be on the bottom corners of the vest reservoir and/or on the shoulder straps of the vest reservoir. The reservoir can be used to modulate the user's body heat (i.e., acting as a heating or cooling vest), for example by filling the vest with hot or cold liquid.

FIG. 12 b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the vest reservoir. The vest reservoir can have a chest volume, a back volume, a front plate, and a back plate. The chest volume can hold fluid or solid. The back volume can hold fluid or solid. The chest volume and the back volume can be separate reservoirs. The chest volume and the back volume can be fluidly connected so that they form one volume.

FIGS. 13 a and 13 b illustrate that the reservoirs and/or manifold can be made from a system of RF welded channels or tubes on a manifold backing or channel panel. The channels can be created by RF welding TPU backed fabric in to thin channels, for example. Fabric or film can be used in place of the tubes or reservoir. The reservoir and/or manifold can be integrated with the backpack, for example by the channel panel being sewn to the backpack.

The assembly can use a reservoir (e.g., a water vessel) as a connector. For example, the reservoirs or water vessels can have more than one port, and can be connected together in series (e.g., in a chain) instead of using a tube to connect between the reservoirs in parallel. The reservoirs can be independent and physically separated from each other. The reservoirs can be directly connected to each other instead of via a tube. The reservoirs can be connected to each other through valved connectors.

All or any elements of the assembly can be safe for human use and consumption, for example, any of the elements (e.g., including the reservoir and/or the drinking tube) can be made from TPU, Silicone, Laminate films, PE, PET, or combinations thereof.

PCT Application No. US2013/029429, filed 6 Mar. 2013 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Method of Use

The reservoir can be disengaged from the manifold by turning at about or less than a 45° angle. The reservoir can be filled with a liquid. The reservoir can be engaged to the manifold by turning in the opposite direction at about or less than a 45° angle. To engage or disengage the reservoirs from the manifold, the reservoirs can instead clip on/off or slide on/off. The valves on the manifold and/or on the reservoir can be turned so that liquid can flow from the reservoir to the manifold. The valves on the manifold and/or the reservoir can be turned so that liquid does not flow from the reservoir to the manifold. The valves can be electronically, automatically, or manually set.

When suction is applied to the drinking tube, the fluid can flow from the reservoirs to the manifold. The fluid can flow from the manifold through the drinking tube. The fluid can flow out of the drinking tube. The valves at the reservoirs, manifold, or drinking tube can prevent fluid flow or enable fluid flow.

When suction is applied to the drinking tube, the first fluid and the second fluid can flow from the respective reservoirs into the manifold and mix in the manifold. For example, the first reservoir can be a bottle containing condensed and/or concentrated energy drink and/or concentrated juice. The second and third reservoirs can contain water. As the user sucks from the drinking tube and drinks, the concentrated drink or juice can be diluted with water in the manifold and/or drinking tube.

The user can fill one vessel with water, and then the water will fill the other vessel to a balanced level provided the two vessels are at the same height. The system can be modular to allow for optimum load distribution for carrying on a person, for example by adjusting the different reservoirs to different positions, or removing or adding reservoirs.

The user can refill the reservoirs without disconnecting the reservoir from the manifold. The user can refill the reservoir by removing the molded top.

The valves on the manifolds and/or reservoirs disclosed herein can be self-sealing, self-closing, self-actuating valves. For example, the valves can be configured to close automatically when the reservoir is removed from the manifold. The valves can prevent leaking from the reservoir and/or manifold when the reservoir is detached from the manifold. The manifold and/or the reservoirs can have the valves. For example, the manifold and reservoirs can have redundant valves (e.g., the manifold can have a valve in the manifold port that attaches to a reservoir that has a valve in the connector to the manifold.) The valves can be from Colder Products Company (CPC) of St. Paul, Minn.

It is apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to this disclosure, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Elements of systems, devices and methods shown with any embodiment are exemplary for the specific embodiment and can be used in combination or otherwise on other embodiments within this disclosure. 

We claim:
 1. A reservoir system comprising: a first manifold comprising a first self-closing valve; a first reservoir removably attached to the first manifold; a second reservoir removably attached to the first manifold; and a drinking tube attached to the first manifold.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a backpack, wherein the first manifold, first reservoir and second reservoir are in the backpack.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a backpack, wherein the first manifold and first reservoir are in the backpack, and wherein the second reservoir is outside of the backpack.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir comprises a handle.
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a harness, wherein the first manifold, first reservoir and second reservoir are in the harness.
 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a harness, wherein the first manifold and first reservoir are in the harness, and wherein the second reservoir is outside of the harness.
 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pod, wherein the first manifold, first reservoir and second reservoir are in the pod.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pod, wherein the first manifold and first reservoir are in the pod, and wherein the second reservoir is outside of the pod.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir comprises a second self-closing valve.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second reservoir comprises a third self-closing valve.
 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second manifold.
 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a third reservoir removably attached to the second manifold.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the drinking tube is in fluid communication with the first manifold and the second manifold.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the second manifold comprises a second self-closing valve.
 15. A reservoir system comprising: a first manifold; a structural bar; a first reservoir removably attached to the first manifold and the structural bar; a drinking tube in fluid communication with the first manifold; and a backpack, wherein the first manifold, bar, and first reservoir are in the backpack.
 16. A method for filling a reservoir comprising: attaching a first reservoir to a manifold at a first manifold port; attaching a second reservoir to the manifold; transferring liquid from the first reservoir to the second reservoir, wherein the transferring of the liquid from the first reservoir comprises transferring the liquid through the manifold; and removing the first reservoir from the manifold, wherein the removing comprises self-sealing the first manifold port.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first reservoir has a first reservoir longitudinal axis, and wherein the second reservoir has a second reservoir longitudinal axis, and wherein the first reservoir longitudinal axis is collinear with the second reservoir longitudinal axis.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising applying suction to the first reservoir, and wherein applying suction to the second reservoir occurs before the transferring of the liquid to the second reservoir.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising rotating the first and second reservoirs with respect to the horizontal plane, and wherein the rotating occurs before the transferring of the liquid to the second reservoir.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first reservoir comprises a reservoir port, and wherein the removing of the first reservoir further comprises self-sealing the first reservoir port. 